Printing



Jan. 16, 1934. I J. J. OCONNELL 1,943,987

PRINTING Filed Nov. 13, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l F/g/ a nf n f/qz 4 4\ I 5 AM q Q W14 7 /0 I 7 v7 /0 7 /fl INVENTOR Jab/7 J 0'60/7/7e// ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1934- J. J. O'CONNELL PRINTING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 13, 1931 INVENTOR John J; O'C'onne/l.

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 16, 1934 FICE" PRINTING John J. OConnell, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to International Envelope Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application November 13, 1931 Serial No. 574,758

'1 Claims. (01. 101-391) This invention relates to printing, and has for an object to provide a method and means whereby the same linotype slugs may be used to present printing surfaces of diiferent contours, and more particularly whereby linotype slugs designed for use in a high speed rotary press for running off copies in substantial numbers maybe adapted for use in a relatively simple fiat bed press for running ofi copies in small numbers.

In printing an order on a high speed rotary press inspection of the work after printing is apt to result inthe rejection of a small portion of the copies printed, say two per cent. It is impracticable to hold thetype on the press until the Iinspection and rejection has been completed or to again set it up on the press for the reprinting of a small number of copies corresponding to the number rejected. It has accordingly been the practice in the past to make allowance for rejected copies by printing a number of copies exceeding the number ordered by at least the maximum number likely to be rejected. In accordance with the present invention, this wasteful practice is obviated.

The linotype slugs employed in a rotary press are of tapering thickness from top to bottom so that when set side by side they present a cylindrical type surface of appropriate curvature for use on the rotary press with which they are designed to be used. Such linotype slugs have heretoiore been regarded as inappropriate for use on a flat bed press. In accordance with the present invention,however, provision is made of a chase for the slugs which includes spacers adapted to fit between the lower ends of the slugs. The spacers are separated from one another by a distance just sufficient to permit the lower end of a slug to be received between adjacent spacers, and the spacers are of such thickness as to exactly compensate for the taper of the slugs. Thus, when the slugs are placed in the chase, the central longitudinal planes of all of the slugs extend parallel to one another, and the type faces are caused to lie in a single plane so that the slugs are adapted for use in a fiat bed press. By recourse to employment of the type slugs in this chase, the former wasteful practice of printing an excessive number of copies may be avoided. The

-5 ;type slugs are first set on a rotary press, and the exact number of copies ordered is run 01f; The

. type is then taken down from therotary press,

the work is inspected, and the rejected copies counted, the type slugs are set up in the novel chase and put into a flat bed press, and a number out avoidable waste.

A further feature of the invention resides the provision of a holder adapted to conveniently 0 receive and securely hold the novel chase in predetermined position, in the adaptation of the chase to such holder.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a bottom, plan view of a chase em ployed for adapting the tapered slugs for use on a fiat bed press;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view through the chase;

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical, sectional View through the chase;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, detail view showing how the spacer wires are anchored in the lower part of the chase;

Figure 5 is a plan View of a holder adapted to be fixed in a flat bed press and showing the novel type chase in place;

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the holder illus-,

trated in Figure 5; and v Figure 7 is a sectional view of the holder taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows. r

As seen best in Figure 3, the linotype slugs 1 with which this invention is concerned are of tapering thickness from top to bottom. When these slugs are placed in contiguous face to face relation, the type faces 2 present a cylindrical surface as required in a rotary press employing a printing cylinder. These slugs are converted for use in a fiat bed press by means of a chase 3. The chase comprises a metallic frame 4 in the form of a hollow rectangle, the rectangular opening in the frame being designated by reference numeral 5. Wires dare disposed in spaced parallel relation longitudinally of the chase with their ends set into slots 7 formed in thelower faces of the ends of the frame. The adjacent wires .6 are spaced 00 plus the diameter of a wire is equal to the maxi- 5 mum thickness of the slug at its upper or larger end. The wire 6 illustrated at the extreme left in Figure 3 has its axis disposed substantially in vertical alignment with the upper left hand corner of the body portion of the slug 1 which is shown 9 in the holder, and each of the other wires has its axis disposed in vertical alignment with the upper left hand corner of the slug positioned to the right of it. Thus, the slugs are all lined up in 5 exact parallelism and with their printing faces lying in a common plane. Screws 8 are threaded through the frame and are adapted to be drawn up against the slugs to press them securely together and lock them in place.

As has been mentioned, the ends of the wires 6 are received in slots 7 formed in the lower faces of the end portions of the frame 4. They are securely anchored in place by the simple expedient of driving a punch or chisel into the bottom face of the frame at opposite sides of each slot. The punch is effective to form a recess 9 in the lower face and to displace a portion of the metal to form a shoulder 10 which extends over and firmly grips the wire.

After the type slugs have been put into the chase 3 and gripped in place, the chase may be employed in a small and inexpensive press of the fiat bed type in the usual Way. In lining up the slugs in the chase, the holder is desirably placed on a table or other flat surface so that the wires 6 need not be relied upon for securing a flush disposition of the printing faces of the type slugs.

It is desirable that the novel chase 3 be adapted to be quickly secured in and removed from a pre- 36 determined position in a flat bed press. In Figures 5, 6 and '7 disclosure is made of a novel holder 11 adapted to be affixed to the bed of the press by bolts passed through openings 12 in the holder. The chase 3 is shown in place in this figure. The holder 11 has an opening therein for receiving the chase, the opposite Walls 13 and 14 of which openings are slightly convergent from the mouth of the opening inward. The walls 13 and 14 are provided with wedge-shaped ribs 15 and 16, respectively, and are adapted to fit into complementary channels 1'? and 18 of the chase. The chase is slightly tapered and is adapted to exactly fit between the walls 13 and 14 when its forward edge 19 is substantially in the'positionindicated by the broken line 20 of Figure 5. Further movement of the chase to the final position illustrated in Figure 5, in which it abuts the wall 21 of the opening in the holder, results in the wedging of the chase securely in place. Provision is made of 7 a cut-out 22 in the upper face of the holder for facilitating removal of the chase from the holder.

The holder described is of particular advantage in any grade of printing where the location is predetermined as is the case, for example, in the printing of corner cards on envelopes. Such printing is always in the same location regardless of the size of the envelope. For this kind of work, the practice is to lock the type in the novel chase and put the chase into the holder. The position of the chase is predetermined by the holder. The guides for the envelopes or sheets of paper may be set in such a way that either a large or a small envelope or sheet can be printed without changing the guides.

I have described what Ibelieve to be the best embodiments of my invention. I do not wish,- however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a plurality of type slugs thicker at the top than at the bottom and adapted to provide a printing surface of one predetermined contour, and spacers interposed between the thinner portions of the slugs for altering the normal angular relation of the slugs to cause them to present a printing surface of a different predetermined contour.

2. In combination, a plurality of type slugs of varying thickness from top to bottom adapted normally to stand in non-parallel relation, and a chase including spacers adapted to fit between the smaller ends of the slugs and to support them in parallel relation.

3. In combination, a plurality of type slugs each of varying thickness, said slugs being adapted to be mounted on a printing cylinder to provide a cylindrical printing surface, and spacers interposed between the thinner portions of the slugs for disposing and supporting them in parallel relation.

4. A type chase for type slugs of varying thickness comprising a frame, a series of parallel spacers providing a series of slots for individually receiving type slugs, the spacers being situated at uniform intervals and being of uniform thickness to determine a uniform angular relation of the slugs, and means carried by the frame above the spacers and extending transversely of the spacers for clamping the slugs in the frame.

5. A type chase for type slugs of varying thickness, comprising a frame, a series of parallel spacers uniformly spaced and of uniform thickness extending across the frame in the lower portion thereof, and means carried by the frame above the spacers for clamping the slugs in the frame.

6. In combination, a type chase having a slight longitudinal taper and a holder having an opening of substantially the same taper for receiving the chase, the chase and holder having co-acting abutment surfaces for accurately arresting the chase in its operative position and also having co-operative shoulders for preventing movement of the chase transversely of the plane of the holder.

7. In combination, a type chase having a slight longitudinal taper and a holder having an opening of substantially the same taper for receiving the chase, the chase and holder having co-acting abutment surfaces for accurately arresting the chase in its operative position and also having cooperative shoulders for preventing movement of the chase transversely of the plane of the holder, the chase being adapted to fit the holder opening snugly at a short distance outward from its operative position in the holder and to be wedged to its operative position.

JOHN J. OCONNELL- 

